How can a speaker be good for HT but not for music? or vice versa

[BLindsay]

Ive heard it a few times where people say a speaker is good for a home theater setup but isnt very musical, or that a speaker is great for music but you would never use it in a home theater. Is there any truth to any of that cause it doesnt make sense, sound is sound, how the heck is a speaker gonna know or care if its a movie or music

[Johnny Vinyl]

I think you're looking at it (from what you've heard) from the wrong perspective. It's not that the speaker isn't any good, it's that some speakers are more suited for music and some for HT setups. Either can be used for either.

My Totems, for instance, really shine when I listen to 2-channel music and specifically when listening to vinyl. They also do double-duty as my HT speakers and work well. Maybe it's because I'm more in tune with sound during 2-channel playback, as I'm actually sitting back and relaxing with a greater emphasis on what's playing. With a movie I'm focused on the movie and then the sound derived from it. It's a different listening experience.

I'm sure there is a technical analysis that someone could introduce, but that someone isn't me. I'm not a person who pays a lot of attention to that side of things. I chose my speakers based on a 2-channel need as that is my primary enjoyment. Hope this has helped even a little bit.

John

[richteer]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

Ive heard it a few times where people say a speaker is good for a home theater setup but isnt very musical, or that a speaker is great for music but you would never use it in a home theater. Is there any truth to any of that cause it doesnt make sense, sound is sound, how the heck is a speaker gonna know or care if its a movie or music

Good question.

When listening to music, accuracy is very important. Not only must tonal colourations be at a minimum, but imaging demands are also higher. OTOH, the average HT person wants to be "entertained", and absolute accuracy isn't important. Hence we see gallery photos here with speakers right against the wall or subs in the corner. It doesn't make for the most accurate sound, but the one-note boom from explosions is mighty entertaining!

So speakers that are intended to be used for listening to music are held to a higher standard than most HT speakers. It's OK for a HT to be "more accurate", but a music lover wouldn't put up with "less accurate", assuming they know that more accurate alternatives exist. Judging by my (somewhat limited, admittedly) experience, most speakers sold by big box stores are, unfortunately, targeted at HT, and therefore tend to be somewhat inaccurate (the searing treble in a lot of Klipsch's stuff comes to mind).

[ozzman]

I have a Yamaha receiver and ive read a lot of comments here on the forum that Yamaha receivers are good for music and not as good for movies.

I always found that a little funny.
Personally i think if your speakers sound amazing with music then your in a good spot to go and enjoy movies.

We can whip out a whole bunch of facts and benchmark tests with certain speakers,enough to make your head spin
but I really wouldn't worry about my friend.

I personally have never found a good musical speaker that didn't sound good with movies

Good speakers are just that,good speaker You really don't have to complicate it

Thats my 2 cents

Have fun,
OZ

[efesbe]

My Strata Mini's are mainly used for intimate settings such as 2 channel music, so I've heard. I don't have the space and time to sit and listen to music in a dedicated setting. Only a few people use my speakers for HT and those that do, are very happy with the performance. For HT, I think you would concentrate more on the Center channel and the sub. Good main speakers are also helpful but any decent speaker would suffice. Like the others said, speakers sold in big stores are displayed for use in HT. I'm sure that if they are good in 2 channel, then they would shine in HT, and not necessarily the other way around.

[lojack1976]

I think it has to do with the type of sound a person prefers. Some people don't like Klipsch for music because they can be brighter than speakers with silk tweeters, but they are a favorite for many in home theaters because of the clarity even at low volumes. They also get extremely loud if you want your theater engulfed in sound. I personally feel that if you pair certain speakers with certain receivers you can achieve the balance you're looking for. Bright speakers? Pair them with a warm receiver. I have to agree that if you like the speakers for music you should like them for home theater, but in some cases not the other way around. This is probably why Onkyo HTIB's are so popular. The speakers are geared towards home theater and they generally perform pretty good for that purpose, but I don't think anyone listening to 2 channel music is going to be very happy with them except maybe the casual listener.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by ozzman

Personally i think if your speakers sound amazing with music then your in a good spot to go and enjoy movies.

I personally have never found a good musical speaker that didn't sound good with movies

Bingo, that's my sentiments exactly.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Bingo, that's my sentiments exactly.

+1

movie's or music my setup sounds great ! I've never heard of A speaker sounding good for one & not the other !!!

[zweet77]

Speaker wise if it sounds good for music it will perform well or better for movies.Imo and that of others some speakers will shine better for movies depending on internal crossover settings and tweeter mid range configuration.For example I prefer the sound of dome tweeters to horns for music.Now subwoofers thats a whole other story some subs can be articulate and detailed and punchy i.e musical but not be able to hit those super low frequencies in an action flick and some subs can knock your socks off for ht but are not so detailed or a little muddy for music.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by ozzman

I have a Yamaha receiver and ive read a lot of comments here on the forum that Yamaha receivers are good for music and not as good for movies.

I always found that a little funny.
Personally i think if your speakers sound amazing with music then your in a good spot to go and enjoy movies.

We can whip out a whole bunch of facts and benchmark tests with certain speakers,enough to make your head spin
but I really wouldn't worry about my friend.

I personally have never found a good musical speaker that didn't sound good with movies

Good speakers are just that,good speaker You really don't have to complicate it

Thats my 2 cents

Have fun,
OZ

Right on! I totally agree and couldn't have said better!

Originally Posted by richteer

When listening to music, accuracy is very important. Not only must tonal colourations be at a minimum, but imaging demands are also higher. OTOH, the average HT person wants to be "entertained", and absolute accuracy isn't important. Hence we see gallery photos here with speakers right against the wall or subs in the corner. It doesn't make for the most accurate sound, but the one-note boom from explosions is mighty entertaining!

Music is entertainment. Film is entertainment. I would want to hear both as accurately, without tonal coloration, and with best imaging possible. Film soundtracks deserve the same TLC as music on vinyl, SACD, or what have you.

Originally Posted by richteer

So speakers that are intended to be used for listening to music are held to a higher standard than most HT speakers. It's OK for a HT to be "more accurate", but a music lover wouldn't put up with "less accurate"....

There is only one standard and it applies to both music and film. There is no double standard.

[sokrman14]

Originally Posted by ozzman

I personally have never found a good musical speaker that didn't sound good with movies

Good speakers are just that,good speaker You really don't have to complicate it

Thats my 2 cents

Have fun,
OZ

I agree, a more tonally accurate speaker (musically preferred), should do just fine, actually just great with movies.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Right on! I totally agree and couldn't have said better!

Music is entertainment. Film is entertainment. I would want to hear both as accurately, without tonal coloration, and with best imaging possible. Film soundtracks deserve the same TLC as music on vinyl, SACD, or what have you.

There is only one standard and it applies to both music and film. There is no double standard.

In principle, I agree. But for whatever reason, most HT buffs don't seem to hold their sound systems to as high a standard as music buffs do. Their loss, I know...

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by richteer

In principle, I agree. But for whatever reason, most HT buffs don't seem to hold their sound systems to as high a standard as music buffs do. Their loss, I know...

Have you looked at Brain Sturgeon's setup yet????

The big issue is cost. If you put all channels equal, an audio buffs setup should cost less than 1/7th of an HT buffs. It's actually a larger percentage because an audio buff doesn't need a TV/Projector.

I think that is why you see less high end setups. Additionally, with the inception of MP3's, audio quality is not what it can be from vinyl or CD or lossess digital audio formats. So, the younger generation does hear the quality out of a 128K mp3 versus a 1000K lossless file. I use Apple Lossess (ALAC) for all my converted CDs.

Personally, I started with audio when I was younger and migrated to car audio and then now to HT. Unfortunately, all of my 2-channel and car audio stuff was sold along the way to pay for some of the debts I got myself into when I was younger.

[ozzman]

Aim a huge audio buff,Haveing said that i love listening to uncompressed,DTS-hd and Dolby True.
There's some good concerts out there and the Video(blu-ray) goes very nice with the audio.It covers all my senses

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

The big issue is cost. If you put all channels equal, an audio buffs setup should cost less than 1/7th of an HT buffs. It's actually a larger percentage because an audio buff doesn't need a TV/Projector.

But an audio buff DOES NEED a good Turntable and/or CD/SACD player, which many a time will cost way more than a TV/Projector!

John

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by richteer

In principle, I agree. But for whatever reason, most HT buffs don't seem to hold their sound systems to as high a standard as music buffs do. Their loss, I know...

Have you looked at Brain Sturgeon's setup yet????

The big issue is cost. If you put all channels equal, an audio buffs setup should cost less than 1/7th of an HT buffs. It's actually a larger percentage because an audio buff doesn't need a TV/Projector.

I think that is why you see less high end setups. Additionally, with the inception of MP3's, audio quality is not what it can be from vinyl or CD or lossess digital audio formats.

Personally, I started with audio when I was younger and migrated to car audio and then now to HT. Unfortunately, all of my 2-channel and car audio stuff was sold along the way to pay for some of the debts I got myself into when I was younger.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by John72953

But an audio buff DOES NEED a good Turntable and/or CD/SACD player, which many a time will cost way more than a TV/Projector!

John

As Meatloaf would say, you took the words right out of my mouth!

[richteer]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Have you looked at Brain Sturgeon's setup yet????

I have, and very impressive it is indeed! But his setup is in another league compareed to most HTs! Don't forget, I'm generalising here. There are, of course, lots of HTs with fantastic, accurate sound systems. But they tend to be in the minority, I think.

Bit of a shame really, because I think watching a good movie with a fantastic sound system would be *amazing*.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by John72953

But an audio buff DOES NEED a good Turntable and/or CD/SACD player, which many a time will cost way more than a TV/Projector!

John

But so does the cost of a high end BD player so this may counter the cost of the SACD/CD player. The turntable I get and you may have me there.

I guess anyway you look at it, the audio guys and the HT guys each have their own costs for their toys. Any way you look at it, the hobby one chooses will dictate the equipment they buy. I know some people have separate setups for each hobby. A 2-channel setup for their music and an HT setup for movie watching.

Mine captures both hobbies in one setup.

[rded]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

But so does the cost of a high end BD player so this may counter the cost of the SACD/CD player. The turntable I get and you may have me there.

My question is, what do you consider a high-end BD player?